Departing SCG chief says he declined ministerial post
Outgoing SCG president and chief executive Kan Trakulhoon says he was approached to take a ministerial post in the government but declined the offer.
"It might be impossible [for me] to enter politics. I’m very afraid of that," said Kan at the Thai industrial group’s thank-you party for reporters held on Tuesday night.
Siam Cement Group, 30 per cent directly owned by the Crown Property Bureau, has a long-time policy of not engaging in politics, and none of its senior executives have accepted a political job, even after their retirements.
Kan said he declined the ministerial role because he had no expertise in public administration, which was a difficult job and would take time to accomplish things.
"But I’m glad to help, as I have assisted many other governments in the past," he said.
Kan said he had agreed to sit on eight government committees, five of them related to the development of science, technology and innovation, and he would continue to serve on them after his retirement from SCG at the end of this month.
"I will genuinely help the country without taking any business interest. And not just me, I’m bringing my staff to assist the work of these committees," he said.
The Cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the establishment of 12 Public-Private Steering Committees. Each of them will be jointly chaired by ministers and top private executives, including Bangkok Bank president Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Thai Beverage CEO Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Central Group CEO Tos Chirathivat, True president and CEO Suphachai Chearavanont, PTT Global Chemical chairman Prasert Bunsumpun, and Srithai Superware’s chairman and president Sanan Angubolkul, as well as Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Board of Trade and Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Supant Mong-kolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.
Kan’s successor at SCG, Roongrote Rangsiyopash, will also co-chair one of the steering committees, as well as SCG executive Kalin Sarasin, who is also chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand,.
Kan said there were plenty of opportunities for every government ministry to improve their effectiveness.
"If possible, [government ministries] should be restructured as an executive board [of a private company], so that everyone [from the different ministries] can collaborate and work on an agenda-based [basis], and be aligned in the same direction," he said.
Meanwhile, Kan said SCG was likely to book its highest profit in 102 years this year, thanks to an up-cycle of the petrochemical industry, which accounts for half of the group’s business.
The chemical-building-materials-packaging group reported a net profit of Bt33.95 billion for the first nine months of this year, up 37 per cent from the same period of 2014, although its sales revenue dropped 10 per cent to Bt333.99 billion, on a sharp decrease in oil and naphtha prices.
